RE:Einsteins brain
Gina Miller (nanogirl@halcyon.com)
Sun, 25 Apr 1999 23:22:32 -0700
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On the Brain of a Scientist: Albert Einstein" was published in 1985 in =
the journal Experimental Neurology (vol. 88, pages 198-204, 1985) and =
written by Marian C. Diamond, Arnold B. Scheibel, Greer M. Murphy and =
...Thomas Harvey!
Compared to the brains of the 11 normal men, the ratios of neurons to =
glial cells in Einstein=92s brain were smaller in all 4 areas studied. =
However, when the numbers were examined more closely with statistics, =
only 1 area showed a difference - the ratio in the left area 39. So in =
the left area 39, Einstein=92s brain had fewer neurons to glial cells =
than the normal brains. In other words, there were more glial cells for =
every neuron in Einstein=92s brain.
The authors concluded that the greater number of glial cells per neuron =
might indicate the neurons in Einstein=92s brain had an increased =
"metabolic need" - they needed and used more energy. In this way, =
perhaps Einstein had better thinking abilities and conceptual skills.=20
A second paper describing Einstein's brain was published in 1996. =
Einstein's brain weighed only 1,230 grams which is far less than the =
average adult male brain (about 1,400 grams). The authors also reported =
that the thickness of Einstein's cerebral cortex (area 9) was thinner =
than that of five control brains. However, the DENSITY of neurons in =
Einstein's brain was greater. In other words, Einstein was able to pack =
more neurons in a given area of cortex.=20
The importance of these differences is still unknown. There are still =
many questions about how the brain constructs personality, builds =
intelligence and forms creativity. Perhaps future studies of the brains =
of other geniuses will reveal what makes these people such giants.=20
Diamond MC, Scheibel AB, Murphy GM Jr, Harvey T
Neuron:glial ratios were determined in specific regions of Albert =
Einstein's cerebral cortex to compare with samples from 11 human male =
cortices. Cell counts were made on either 6- or 20-micron sections from =
areas 9 and 39 from each hemisphere. All sections were stained with the =
Kluver-Barrera stain to differentiate neurons from glia, both astrocytes =
and oligodendrocytes. Cell counts were made under oil immersion from the =
crown of the gyrus to the white matter by following a red line drawn on =
the coverslip. The average number of neurons and glial cells was =
determined per microscopic field. The results of the analysis suggest =
that in left area 39, the neuronal: glial ratio for the Einstein brain =
is significantly smaller than the mean for the control population (t =3D =
2.62, df 9, p less than 0.05, two-tailed). Einstein's brain did not =
differ significantly in the neuronal:glial ratio from the controls in =
any of the other three areas studied.=20
Gina "Nanogirl" Miller
Nanotechnology Industries
Web:
http://www.nanoindustries.com
E-mail:
nanogirl@halcyon.com
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On the Brain of a Scientist: Albert Einstein" was published in =
1985 in=20
the journal
Experimental Neurology (vol. 88, pages 198-204, 1985) =
and=20
written by
Marian C.=20
Diamond, Arnold B. Scheibel, Greer M. Murphy and ...
Thomas Harvey!
Compared to the brains of the 11 normal men, the ratios of neurons =
to glial=20
cells in Einstein’s brain were smaller in all 4 areas studied. =
However,=20
when the numbers were examined more closely with statistics, only 1 area =
showed=20
a difference - the ratio in the left area 39. So in the left area 39,=20
Einstein’s brain had fewer neurons to glial cells than the normal =
brains.=20
In other words, there were more glial cells for every neuron in =
Einstein’s=20
brain.
The authors concluded that the greater number of glial cells per =
neuron=20
might indicate the neurons in Einstein’s brain had an increased=20
"metabolic need" - they needed and used more energy. In this =
way,=20
perhaps Einstein had better thinking abilities and conceptual skills. =
A second paper describing Einstein's brain was published in 1996.=20
Einstein's brain weighed only 1,230 grams which is far less than the =
average=20
adult male brain (about 1,400 grams). The authors also reported that the =
thickness of Einstein's cerebral cortex (area 9) was
thinner than that of five control brains. However, =
the DENSITY=20
of neurons in Einstein's brain was greater. In other words, Einstein was =
able to=20
pack more neurons in a given area of cortex.=20
The importance of these differences is still unknown. There are still =
many=20
questions about how the brain constructs personality, builds =
intelligence and=20
forms creativity. Perhaps future studies of the brains of other geniuses =
will=20
reveal what makes these people such giants.
Diamond MC, Scheibel AB, Murphy GM Jr, Harvey T
Neuron:glial ratios were determined in specific regions of Albert =
Einstein's=20
cerebral cortex to compare with samples from 11 human male cortices. =
Cell counts=20
were made on either 6- or 20-micron sections from areas 9 and 39 from =
each=20
hemisphere. All sections were stained with the Kluver-Barrera stain to=20
differentiate neurons from glia, both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. =
Cell=20
counts were made under oil immersion from the crown of the gyrus to the =
white=20
matter by following a red line drawn on the coverslip. The average =
number of=20
neurons and glial cells was determined per microscopic field. The =
results of the=20
analysis suggest that in left area 39, the neuronal: glial ratio for the =
Einstein brain is significantly smaller than the mean for the control =
population=20
(t =3D 2.62, df 9, p less than 0.05, two-tailed). Einstein's brain did =
not differ=20
significantly in the neuronal:glial ratio from the controls in any of =
the other=20
three areas studied.
Gina "Nanogirl" Miller
Nanotechnology =
Industries
Web:
http://www.nanoindustries.com<=
BR>E-mail:
nanogirl@halcyon.com